Manhole for ships  bunkers



(No Model.)

J MURPHY MANHOLE FOR SHIPS BUNKBRS. I Patented Mar. 12, 1895.

' Shrew/11421 JOHN MURPHY, OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

MANHOLE FOR'SHIPS"BUNKERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,390, dated March12, 1 895. Application filed September 5, 1 894- Serial No. 522,227. (Nomodel.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN MURPHY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Gloucester, in the county of Essex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements inMauholes for Ships Bunkers; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

This invention relates to closures for manholes for decks of fishingsmacks and other Water craft, through which coal and other arti ]3lesare passed to the bunkers of said vesse s.

The object of the invention is the provision of a closure which willpreserve a water-tight joint and obviate any projecting portions on thedeck which would present obstructions for one to stumble over. Thefurther purpose of the invention is the provision of a closure which canbe forced to place by pressure from above and which will be self-lockingand capable of being opened from below by a correspondin g pressure orblow.

The improvement consists of the novel features and the peculiarconstruction and combination of the parts which hereinafter will be morefully described and claimed, and which are shown in the annexeddrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a section of the deck of a water craftshowing the application of the invention thereto. Fig. 2 is a detailperspective view of the main frame which is permanently secured to andlines the opening in the crafts deck. Fig. 3 is a detail view of theclosure or cap.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A designates a band which isadapted to be fitted in an opening provided in the deck of a vessel.This band is provided at its upper end with an outwardly extendingflange B which is provided at intervals with openings through whichsuitable fastenings pass to secure the band or frame in the opening inthe deck. A seat 0 is provided between the band and .the flange and isformed by the horizontal extension at and the vertical wall I) whichintersects with the horizontal extension at and is secured thereto atthe point of intersection. In applying this band or frame to the vesselsdeck, the opening is enlarged at its upper end to form a countersink forthe seat 0, so that the outer flange B may come flush with the surfaceof the deck.

The closure is formed by a plate D having annular flanges d and eextending in parallel relation and located at the outer edge of the saidplate. A packing E of rubber or other suitable yielding material isseated in the recess formed between the annular walls cl and cand isheld therein by frictional contact. This plate or cap is of a size tosnugly fit within the vertical wall I) and the packing E is of a depthto rest upon the horizontal extension a to form a tight joint therewith,so as to exclude water and maintain the plate D on a level with theflange B. Spring arms F are disposed at diametrically opposite pointsand are attached to the plate D and have their lower ends bent outwardby such relative length as to run beneath the lower end of the band Aand retain the cap in place when forced home in the seat 0. The ends ofthe arms F are projected and curved outwardly to form extensionsfwhichare adapted to be grasped by the hands as it is desired to engage thespring arms F from the band when it is desired to remove the cap D forsuch purpose. In the preferable form of construction the arms F areintegrally formed and constitute parts of a single strip which isattached midway of its ends to the plate D. A ring g is centrallydisposed on the lower side of the plate D to form means for locking thecap D in the event of the spring arms being broken or otherwise failingto answer the purpose for which they are provided.

In the application of the invention, the manhole is first provided inthe vessels deck or any other required place where it is desired toapply the invention and the same is lined by the band or frame A, whichis applied thereto and secured in the manner aforesaid. WVhen the plateor cap D is removed, ooal or any suitable commodity can be loaded in thebunker of the vessel through the manhole. The cap is placed in positionand forced home by pressure from above either by stamping or otherwiseforcing the same in the seat 0.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is Thecombination with a band or frame having an outwardly extending flange atits upper end and provided with an inner seat, of a cap provided withtwo annular flanges on its under side between which packing is held andadapted to be fitted in the said seat and come flush with the topsurface of the flange 0n the band or frame and spring arms havingoutwardly flaring lower ends which are adapted to engage the lowerportion of the frame and retain the cap in its closed position thereon,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

JOHN MURPHY.

Vitnesses:

CHAS. D. SMITH, MARTIN J. WILLIAMs.

